The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-06-12
THE DRY BENCHERS.
Mr.. Culmer Again to the Front in
Their Interest.
To the Editor of THE HERALD.

To the Editor of THE HERALD.
At the risk of being considered pest
and a nuisance. beg again to occupy
space in the paper which has been try
ing to help us against the folly and
stubbornness of some who take pleas
ure in blocking the wheels of improve
ment, aud extending with charitable
feelings equal rights to all. In all the
early petitions, etc., which were ad-
dressed to the City Council, we asked
for Surplus water in those days and
years, when what we wanted and asked
for was running to waste. We we're
was no surplus water, while many mil
lion gallons were daily running to waste
into tbs Great Salt Lake. Year after
year this was the case, and the taxpay-
ers and voters upon this dry bench were
tantalized. AT length, at the expense
of thousands of dollars, pipe was laid.
1t took to my knowledge, from 1868 to
l8S6-18 years-to get that, while we,
The citizens" were paying for the COM
fort of other2 Now, there is whine
goes up because we demand our rights
as citizens, and the few who have been
benefited by the pipe system are re-
quired to sign a license written
across in red ink, that it is only
surplus water, liable at any time
when wanted for street sprink-
ling or irrigation by other citizens,
to be cut off-the City Council pleading
for prior vested rights for citizens VINO
bought vested rights from those who
fQFmpn hnrp fnrfU Wo do
want to hear any such bosh, and do not
feel inundated by such. nonsense.
Half an hour would settle our little
business in the courts and it may get
there yet, for it cannot be supposed we
can be bulldoZed much longer.
It appears there is such mysterious
work IN this water supply that fear takes
hold of men and robs them of their
senses. Can it be possible that with a
population of 25 900 our limited water
supply is such that all the city will
suffer if justice is rendered to one por-
'ion?' You would stop increase and
prosperity while water enough runs
through the city to waste which would
supply Is 900 inhabitants. Sooner than
stop the water you would stop the in
crease of the city in everything else
while you create a wonderous wall
oOOOb TIC SCdtC1bJ Which, w ucu GQS
red letters of the Dry Benchers' Gull |
nary certificates take place there will be |
dry lawns in all parts of the city, for |
surely you would not turn off our only |
drinking and cooking water to supply |
grass platts. Apropos, if this water is |
surplus why not give US a good soaking |
while it lasts; accede to our wishes and |
petitions and means and walls and use !
the ditch which is there on CITY |
land to convey to US the surplus |
water that We may live while the sur
plus lasts. Don't run it into the Great |
Salt Lake, for PHYS sake. You are run
ming our surplus water away and then |
you can tax US as surplus citizens and /
Only ask for our surplus votes, to re-
tSsh in Office tyaants to humanity, and
enemies to our cause, those who, when
we ask for bread, would give Us stone;
when we ask for water would give US
iron, with restrictions even at that.
How many million dollars would it
ia Ike to finish this pipe business so as to
show semblance of fair play2 From
A to n inclusive, fourteen streets, two
blocks up and two down, fifty six
blocks at $3.50, the sum called for, the
amount is IS. 400. Such sum to make
3 fuss aboutI "Well, we can't do it;
that is, we have made up our minds
that we WON'T the City Council saws,
Well, expend the odd $500 and We will
wait for justice. Open up ditch, and
Tor heavens sake give US some sur
plus; don't turn it all this way or you
will swamp the dry benchers and for
ever put an end to their wailings.
There is no water available upon the
Try bench for the poor creatures who
i've there now, any more than there
was ten years ago, Notwithstanding
the many assertions to the contrary.
We have not applied frequently for
new system of pipe nor even for any
pipe; we have asked for citizens
rights, nothing more. I'VE want no less.
We have not asked for extra taxes for
5he city. We are misrepresented.
We heartily endorse THE HERALD of
June 5th for the reasons therein stated.
and, moreover, in this case the poor
cannot advance, so have to go without
not offer any threats, other means we
nay take as sequence. We do not re.
oice at affection, but our wives, chill
ZEN and lives are as dear to us as yours
sre to you. This state of things can
rot exist as it has done; delays are
dangerous. We want relief. We want
t now. We want it unconditional as
,ther citizens, We want water while
here is any. 1t is pot right to restrict
is any more than others. Age, color,
.ace, religion, or previous condition
have no legal right of precedence in
his case Give Us water or tell US you
wont, without delay, then we will know
What to do. We offer no petitions. We
Iccept no promises. Give US water.
Respectfully.